Telescoping lining and support structure and method for lining tunnels and shafts

ABSTRACT

A novel telescoping lining and support structure and method for lining tunnels and shafts is provided in which a plurality of first chordal segments are drawn into a tunnel or shaft hole in a reduced diameter state of compression, expanded diametrically one after another in place in said tunnel or shaft and keyed in the expanded state by a second smaller chordal segment which completes an annular ring segment with the first chordal segment in place.

llnited States Patent Chlumeclty Fell1 .29,1972

[54] TELESQOPIING LINJING AND @IIPPORT STRUOMJRE AND METHOU FOR MININGTUNNELS AND SHAFTS ['72] Inventor: Nicholas Chlumeclry, Poland, Ohio[73] Assignee: Commercial Shearing & Stamping Com- [22] Filed: Dec. 28,1970 21 Appl. No.: 101,375

[52] US. Cl. ..61/42, 61/45 R [51] Int. Cl .Elllg 5/02 [58] Field ofSearch ..61/84, 85, 42, 43, 45; 299/11, 299/31, 33

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,137,442 4/1915 Abbott..61/45 R 1,372,856 3/1921 Winterbottom. ..61/42 1,751,147 3/1930Hackley ..61/45 R 3,206,824 9/1965 Cerutti ..61/42 X FOREIGN PATENTS ORAPPLICATIONS 3/1955 France ..6l/45 R 1,163,356 4/1958 France ..61/841,278,994 11/1961 France ..6l/84 10,193 11/1932 Australia.. ..61/45 RPrimary ExaminerDennis L. Taylor Attorney-'Buell, Blenko & Ziesenheim[57] ABSTRACT A novel telescoping lining and support structure andmethod for lining tunnels and shafts is provided in which a plurality offirst chordal segments are drawn into a tunnel or shaft hole in areduced diameter state of compression, expanded diametrically one afteranother in place in said tunnel or shaft and keyed in the expanded stateby a second smaller chordal segment which completes an annular ringsegment with the first chordal segment in place.

4 Claims, 18 Drnwlng Figures PATENTEDFEBZS I972 3, 645, 102

sum 1 OF 3 INVENTOR 5; Nicholas Chlumecky Pmmearaazema 3,645; 102

SHEET 3 BF 3 INVENTOR Nicholas Chlumecky TELESCOIING LIININ'G ANDSUPPORT STRUCTURE AND METHOD FOR LINING TUNNELS AND SHAFTS Thisinvention relates to a telescoping lining and support structure andmethod for lining tunnels and shafts and particularly to a much improvedmethod of supporting and lining tunnels and shafts which are made bymining and tunneling methods.

Underground tunnels and shafts, such as vehicular tunnels, underwatertubes, sewer and pollutant control tunnels, subways and similarstructures must be provided with a supporting lining. The quicker thetunnel can be lined and completed for the support of surrounding earthand exclusion of water, the better. One method of accomplishing thisuses concrete pipe which is jacked with heavy pressure into the earth bymeans of substantial hydraulic jacks which must abut against a verystrong base or wall which is usually located in a shaft because suchjacking would be difficult if the pipe has to be pushed from a structureon a flat surface. As the pipe is pushed ahead, earth is excavated atthe front end of the tunnel ahead of the pipe which is then moved ahead.Besides the difficulty of requiring heavy jacking equipment, the pipewhich is being jacked ahead must be lubricated on the outside usually bydrilling holes from the surface and by injecting a mixture of water andbentonite. Drilling of the injection holes is costly because it must bedone at relatively close intervals and because it interferes often withutilities and right of way on surface in congested city locations.Another disadvantage of the present method of pipe jacking is that itrequires specially favorable conditions in relation to the earth throughwhich the pipe is to be jacked. If the tunnel has to be driven throughearth which contains many boulders or rock, or if the earth settlesforcefully on the jacked pipe, due to labor delays or other factors suchas insufficient bentonite lubrication, any further tunneling by pipejacking becomes impossible and tunneling can then only proceed bymethods other than pipe jacking. Another problem is that at times due tothe heavy jacking load, pipe components break up and require theirremoval with costly repair. While pipe jacking is successful in suitablelocations in earth, it is limited in range since the jacking thrust canmove but a limited lineal footage of pipe. When load or drag, despitelubrication of the outside wall of the pipe, increases to a point wherethe pipe may be damaged by the pressure applied, the jacking must bediscontinued. Furthermore, most accurate aligning of the jacked pipemust be observed and maintained because misalignment will cause completeseizure and stoppage of the pipe being jacked making any further tunneladvance impossible with this method. Another problem is the handling ofpower cables, ventilation ducts and other utilities which have to becarried forward to the working face of the tunnel. The pipe elementswhich are jacked into the earth have to be placed against the lastelement which was pushed in. In order to join the next pipe element, allabove utility lines and often also the track for cars which haul out theexcavated earth have to be disconnected and after placing the pipeelement all these utilities have to be reconnected before the tunneladvance can be resumed. In summary, the present art of pipe jacking intunneling is subject to many hazards, laborious efforts, high costs andconsiderable limitations.

The present invention provides a novel and significant improvement overthe presently used method which was described above. In addition theinvention provides a tunnel lining which can be telescoped through theinstalled lining without the need for heavy jacking members whichrequire a strong abutment. The tunnel lining of the present inventiondoes not require costly drilling methods for the injection oflubricating matter to the outside of the tunnel lining. Furthermore thisinvention provides a telescoping tunnel lining which does not depend onspecially favorable earth formations through which the tunnel is minedand which is not affected by work stoppages or other delays which causeseizure of a moving lining. The present tunnel lining can be telescopedtowards the tunnel face without exerting excessive and damagingpressures on lining components as they are moved ahead. Moreover thepresent invention provides a lining which does not require a large shaftfrom which the tunnel can be started. The lining of the presentinvention can be moved into the tunnel without a need to disconnect andreconnect utility lines, ventilation pipes and track.

The present invention provides a method of lining a tunnel in which aplurality of first chordal segments are drawn into a tunnel in thecompressed state, expanded one after another in place and keyed by asmaller second chordal segment to form an annular segment in place.Preferably the segments are provided with grout holes through whichgrout is pumped to fill the void behind the segments. The segments aremoved into place by drawing with a cable, by means of hydrauliccylinders or by other equivalent means. The segments may be made of anystrong elastic material such as steel, reinforced plastic, reinforcedconcrete of the like material. The first chordal segments preferablyinclude an angle greater than 230".

In the foregoing general description I have set out certain objects,advantages and purposes of my invention. Other advantages and purposesof this invention will be described hereafter and will become apparentto those who are skilled in the art of tunneling when considering thefollowing description with accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal section through a tunnel embodying my methodfor telescoping a lining into a tunnel;

FIG. 2 shows the cross section of the tunnel on the line II- II showingthe manner in which the lining is telescoped and where the lining uponexpansion and completion consists of three pieces per ring;

FIG. 3 shows an elevational view of the tunnel track with support framefor carrying utility lines;

FIG. 4 is an end elevationalview of a telescoping lining member of FIG.1 in compressed condition for insertion in a tunnel; taken on line IV-IV of FIG. 1

FIG. 5 shows a cross section of a second embodiment of telescopinglining where the track is contained by the telescoping lining and whereeach ring consists of two pieces;

FIG. 6 shows a fragmentary cross section of a third embodiment of liningaccording to my invention;

FIG. 7 shows a plan view of trapezoidal-shaped bottom segments of tunnellining with square joints used in the embodiment of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 shows a fragmentary cross section of trapezoidalshaped bottomsegments upon assembly with joints which have a tongue and grooveconfiguration;

FIG. 9 is a plan view of the trapezoidal-shaped bottom segments of theembodiment of FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 shows a cross section of a spline joint which could be usedinstead of other joint configurations of this invention;

FIG. 11 illustrates a cross section of another type of joint assembly ofthis invention;

FIG. 12 depicts a cross section of a joint with asymmetrical keeper andseal of this invention;

FIG. 13 shows a cross section of a tongue and groove joint of thisinvention;

FIG. 14 illustrates a cross section of a joint with an H-section as astabilizer to keep edges in line;

FIG. 15 shows an assembly with square edge with bolt and washer assemblyto keep edges of joints in exact alignment;

FIG. 16 shows tongue-and-groove joint with holes for temporary use todraw longitudinal or vertical joints together;

FIG. 17 is another embodiment of my invention shown in end elevation;and

FIG. 18 is still another embodiment of my invention in end elevation.

Referring to FIG. I, I have shown a general arrangement of thetelescoping tunnel lining installation showing an arcuate segment 10being lowered by crane 111 into vertical shaft 12 in front of horizontalshaft 13. Segment It) is joined to other segments 10 already insertedwithin assembled lining 14 by drawing together temporarily lower ends ISwith cable or chain 16 as shown by FIG. 4 showing cross section ofsegment being lowered into shaft 12. Once segment is inserted withintunnel lining 14 temporary cable 16 is removed. Clamp 17 is thenfastened to the trailing edge of segment 10. Clamps 17 are attached tocables 18 which run over sheave 19 which is mounted on shield 20. Cables18 run out inside tunnel lining 14 to sheaves 21 and double drum winch22. As the installation of tunnel lining 14 proceeds, segments 10 arepulled ahead within shield and expanded and assembled with secondsegments 23 and 24 which complete the bottom of tunnel lining 14. Powerlines 25 are carried by frames 26. Frames 26 are bolted to track 27. Inshaft 12, powerlines 25 run under track 27 so that they will notinterfere with the lowering and insertion of segment 10 within tunnellining 14. Frames 26 can then be used also to carry ventilation pipe 28to the working face 29 of the tunnel.

FIG. 2 shows a cross section of the telescoping lining arrangement ofFIG. 1 and particularly the manner in which the various elements of theinvention are related to each other. It shows how segment 10 which mayconsist of strong elastic material such as steel, reinforced plastic orreinforced concrete is located and held confined within upper expandedlining segment 10 and bottom lining segments 23 and 24. It shows alsohow frame 26 which carries powerlines 25 as well as piping 30 andventilation line 28 is fastened to track 27. Segments are furnished withgrout holes 31 to fill the void between limits of tunnel excavation 32with grout 33. Telescoping segments 10 are pulled into tunnel by clamp17 which is attached to winch cables 18 that run over sheave 19 which isattached to tunnel shield.

In FIG. 5 I have illustrated a method of telescoping segments 101 withmaximum circumference into completed tunnel lining 101 such that onlyone key segment 102 is required upon expansion of segment 100 to thediameter of tunnel lining 161. For this method, track 103 has to rest onsegment 100. This method of telescoping is suitable for relatively smalldiameter tunnels where the weight of muck car 104 is not excessive.

In the embodiment of FIG. '7 I show a plan view of parallelogram-shapedsegment 110 and trapezoidal-shaped segment 111 suitably shaped forinstallation of trapezoidal segment 112 so that as the segments 110 and111 are slid longitudinally, they will require a minimum of space aheadof completed portions of the lining. FIG. 6 shows how the assembledsegments are arranged as related to a fragmentary view of the liningcross section.

In the embodiment of FIG. 9 I show a plan view of the parallelogramsegments 121 and two trapezoidal segments 122 with tongueand-grooveshaped joint 123 to assure proper alignment of segments through theirjoints. FIG. 8 shows a fragmentary cross section of telescoping segmentin relation to assembled lining 124.

FIG. 10 to FIG. 16 describe variousjoints which could be suitable foruse with the telescoping lining 130. FIG. 10 is a spline joint withspline 131 inserted in grooves 132. For sealing groove 132 could befilled with sealant material 133 which forms a bond between spline 131and lining 130.

FIG. 15 shows squarejoints 151 held in alignment during as sembly bymeans of temporary bolts 152 and washers 153.

FIG. 16 shows a fragmentary plan view of a tongue-andgroove joint beforeit is drawn together. As a means of drawing thejoint together, holes 161are drilled through lining 162. Dowels (not shown) are then insertedtemporarily in hole 161 to draw thejoint together with a clamp (notshown).

FIGS. 10 to 16 show also locations of sealing or bonding material 164which may consist of epoxy or other suitable compounds.

FIGS. 17 and 18 show other embodiments in which a segment 200 is passedthrough the lined tunnel and expanded and fastened to an overlappingbottom member 201 by bolts 202 or alternatively by bottom segments 203and splice plate 204.

In the foregoing specification I have set out certain preferredembodiments of my invention however, it will be understood that thisinvention may be otherwise embodied within the scope of the followingclaims.

Iclaim:

1. A method of lining a tunnel and the like comprising the steps of:

a. tunneling a shaft into the earth,

b. carrying a plurality of first chordal segments into said tunnel shaftas tunneling progresses, said first segments being reduced in diameterby compression, expanding said segments diametrically one after anotherin place in said shaft,

c. inserting a second chordal segment between the ends of said expandedfirst chordal segment to form an annular segment, and

d. continuing to insert compressed first segments through said completedrings and expanding the same in place one after another to complete alining.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first chordal segments areprovided with spaced openings and grout is pumped therethrough to fillany voids between the completed annular segments and the tunnel shaft.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first chordal segments arecarried into place by pulling with a cable and winch.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first chordal segments arecarried into place by hydraulic jacks.

1. A method of lining a tunnel and the like comprising the steps of: a.tunneling a shaft into the earth, b. carrying a plurality of firstchordal segments into said tunnel shaft as tunneling progresses, saidfirst segments being reduced in diameter by compression, expanding saidsegments diametrically one after another in place in said shaft, c.inserting a second chordal segment between the ends of said expandedfirst chordal segment to form an annular segment, and d. continuing toinsert compressed first segments through said completed rings andexpanding the same in place one after another to complete a lining.
 2. Amethod as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first chordal segments areprovided with spaced openings and grout is pumped therethrough to fillany voids between the completed annular segments and the tunnel shaft.3. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first chordal segments arecarried into place by pulling with a cable and winch.
 4. A method asclaimed in claim 1 wherein the first chordal segments are carried intoplace by hydraulic jacks.